Laundry tub pump device



May 6, 1969 H. W. FITZGERALD LAUNDRY TUB PUMP DEVICE Filed March 23. 1967 Sheet of2 a; X 4/ 2. j I I i 14 24 A4 .27 w 5; /00 62;

J! w M j INVENTOR.

May 6, 1969 H. w. FITZGERALD LAUNDRY TUB PUMP DEVICE Sheet Filed March 23, 1967 5 raw/VI?! United States Patent US. Cl. 103-26 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic drainage device which is adapted to withdraw water or other liquid from a tray or tub having an outlet at a low level and to discharge it through an outlet at a higher level and including a switch actuator that is responsive to the liquid level contained in the tray or tub.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 591,197 filed Nov. 1, 1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an automatic drainage device which is adapted to withdraw water or other liquid from an outlet at a low level and discharge it through an outlet at a higher level.

The invention is particularly applicable to the drainage of a stationary laundry tub or sink which is located below the level of an inlet pipe to a septic tank or other sewage means that is located above the drain for the stationary tub. The invention 'also relates to a switch and float actuation combination adapted to be attached to a side wall of a stationary tub for operating an electrically driven pump.

In homes where washing machines are positioned in the basement and have septic tanks or fields rather than a regular sewage system, it is commonly necessary to pump the water from the laundry tub into the septic tank or field. Considerable difliculty has been experienced with prior art devices for automatically actuating pumps to accomplish this purpose; consequently, many of the artisans in the field will install manual pumps which go on when the switch is manually turned on and will go ofr when the switch is manually turned oif.

The present invention provides a means for automatically operating such a pump which will.work in a very satisfactory and reliable manner. In the invention, a laundry tub is provided having a bottom with an opening therein and upstanding side walls. A conduit means is coupled at one end to the opening in the tub and at the other end is positioned substantially above the tub to enable liquid to be discharged into a septic tank that may be located above the level of the opening in the tub. A pump is positioned in this conduit means for pumping liquid from the end of the conduit means connected to the outlet or opening in the tub to the septic tank. An electrical motor controlled by a switch means is coupled to the pump. This switch means closes a circuit to the motor when it is in one position and opens the circuit to the motor when the switch is in its other position. A float is positioned in the tub and means are employed for coupling the electric switch and the float for moving the switch to the one position where it closes the circuit to the motor when the liquid in the tub reaches a predetermined upper level near the top of the tub and for moving the switch to its other position where it opens the circuit to the electric motor when the liquid in the tub reaches a predetermined lower level near the bottom of the tub.

The invention also includes the combination of a switch 3,4422% Patented May 6, 1969 and a float actuator for accomplishing the above-described functions of closing the circuit to the motor when the fluid in the tub reaches a predetermined upper level near the top of the tub and for opening the circuit to the motor when the liquid in the tub reaches a predetermined lower level near the bottom of the tub. The float actuator comprises an open cylinder mounted on a side wall of the tub and having one end positioned near the topof the tub and the other end positioned a short distance above the opening in the bottom of the tub. A rod is positioned within the cylinder having first stop means positioned near the top thereof and a second stop means positioned near the bottom thereof. A float has a central opening therein for receiving the rod so that the float may move relative to the rod as the liquid level in the tub rises and falls. Coupling means couple the rod to a movable member in the switch for moving a movable switch contact to one position. For example, the movable contact is positioned in engagement with a fixed contact when the liquid level rises to the extent that the float engages the stop on the rod and moves it upwardly. This coupling means will maintain the switch in this position, where the movable contact is positioned in engagement with the fixed contact, until the liquid level falls sutfciently to permit the float to drop and engage the stop member positioned on the other end of the rod. 1

The invention will thus provide automatic operation of a drainage pump without causing needless frequent starting and stopping of the pump motor in response to minor fiuctations of the water level in the laundry tub. The pump will be started only when the water level in the tub reaches a predetermined upper level and will stop only whenthe liquid in the tub falls to a predetermined lower level.

In addition, a timing device may be coupled to the electric motor that drives the pump and to the switch mechanism for delaying the deenergization of the pump for a short time period, for example, 30 seconds to a minute, after the liquid level in the tub falls to the abovementioned lower predetermined level. This provides the advantage of completely draining the tub after the second predetermined lower level has been reached.

An object of the invention is the provision of a means for automatically draining a laundry tub or the like into a septic tank or other sewage means that is located above the level of the opening in the tub.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a removable electrical switch and float actuator which may be readily attached to a tub and connected to an electrical motor for driving a drain pump.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention may be more readily realized as the specification is considered in connection with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view using the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the switch and float mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 7 is a bottom elevational view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, there is shown in FIG. 1, a laundry tub 10 having upstanding side walls, one of which is designated by of a drainage system the numeral 11 and a bottom designated by the numeral 12. The bottom has a drainage opening therein connected to one end of a conduit 13. The other end of the conduit 13 is connected to the inlet 15 of a pump 16, which may be of any conventional type, for example, a centrifugal pump which is driven by an electrical motor 18. The outlet from the pump 16 is connected to a conduit 22 that has an opening or end 24 positioned to discharge liquid into a drain pipe 26. It can be appreciated that the drain pipe 26 is positioned substantially above the tub 10' and that it is adapted to discharge the liquid in the tub into a septic tank or drain field that may be positioned at ground level, whereas the tub 10 would be positioned substantially below the ground level and in the basement of a home where the washing machine and other laundry apparatus is located.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, there is shown the electrical switch and float operated switch actuator of the present invention in which the switch is designated by the numeral 30 and the float actuator is designated by the numeral 32. The switch 30 includes a planar and horizontally positioned support member 33 made of an insulating material and carried by the housing 34 by means of struck-out tabs 35 and 36 and screws 37 and 38. The first terminal 41 is carried by the support member 33 and it has a fixed contact 42 supported therefrom by means of a U-shaped metal member 43 that is in turn connected to the terminal 41. Another terminal 44 is positioned on the support member 33 and it carries a movable leaf spring 46 that has a free end 48 carrying a movable contact 50. The free end of the leaf spring 46 is also coupled to an arcuate metal member 52 that has the other end coupled to one end of a metal leaf 54. The other end of the metal leaf 54 is attached to the support member 33 by means of a rivet 56.

The float actuator 32 comprises a cylindrical housing 60 that is attached to the switch housing 34 by means of a metal strap 62. The metal strap 62 may be welded to the cylindrical housing 60 and may be attached to the switch housing 34 by means of a machine screw 63.

A metal rod 64 is substantially concentrically disposed within the cylindrical housing 60 and it has a stop member 66 disposed near the top end thereof and another stop member 68 disposed at the bottom end thereof. These two stop members are preferably formed of suitable rubber or plastic elements and may be press-fitted onto the cylindrical rod 64. A float 70 constructed of a light weight plastic having a density substantially less than that of water is positioned on the rod 64 for sliding movement between the two stop members 66 and 68. This is accomplished by providing the float 70 with a cylindrical bore 72 that is larger in diameter than the rod 64.

The upper end of the rod 64 may be bent over as at 74 to receive a metallic sleeve 75. This sleeve is suitably afiixed to a vertically extending actuating member or rod 76 by means of a screw 78. The upper end of the actuating rod 76 carries a cross member 82 of rectangular shape that slides in a U-shaped metal portion '84 that may be suitably affixed to the non-metallic support member or insulating board 33 by means of rivets 86 and 88. This cross member 82 has slots positioned in the ends thereof that receive the side walls of the U-shaped member 84. The cross member 82 and the slots are dimensioned to provide a substantial amount of friction between the side walls of the U-shaped member 84 and the ends of the cross member 82.

The terminal 44 is connected to a lead 90 that may in turn be connected to a suitable source of electric power, while the other terminal 41 is connected to a lead 92 that may, in turn, be connected with a timer 9 4 connected to energize the electric motor 1 8. The timer 94 is so constructed that it will turn on the electric motor 18 when the lead 92 is energized, as will be described subsequently, and it includes a means for delaying the deenergization of the electric motor 18 for a brief time period after the lead 92 is deenergized. Any suitable electrical timer that performs this function may be employed with the system of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the strap 62 that connects the housing 34 of the switch 30 and the cylindrical housing 60 of the switch actuator 32 carried an L-shaped bracket 98 having one leg 100 suitably affixed to the strap 62 and another leg 102 that carries an adjustable screw 104. This adjustable screw may be employed to affix the strap 62 and thus the switch 30 and the float actuator 32 to a side wall 11 of the tub 10, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the cylindrical housing 60. is disposed in a generally vertical position in the tub 10 with the bottom end thereof spaced a short distance from the bottom 12 of the tub 10.

The operation of the invention will now be described. When the laundry tub or tray 10 is empty, the float 70 and the electrical switch 30 will be in the position shown in FIG. 2 so that the bottom of the float 70 is in contact with the stop 68 and the rod 64 is in its lower position. As the laundry tub 10 is filled by the efiluent from a washing machine, the liquid level in the tub will rise thereby raising the float 70 relative to the rod 64 until the upper end of the float 70 comes in contact with the stop member 66. As the liquid level in the tub continues to rise, the stop member 66 and the rod 64 will be raised by the float 70 to the position where the stop is in the dotted line position, shown in FIG. 2. This urges the rod 64 together with the actuating member 76 upwardly so that the end of the actuating member 76 engages the free end of the leaf spring 54 and forces the leaf spring upwardly into engagement with the insulating support or board 33. This action raises the end of the arcuate coupling member 52 that is coupled to the leaf spring 54 upwardly and lowers the other end thereby lowering the end 48 of the leaf spring 46 so that the contact 50 comes into engagement with the contact 42.

As previously pointed out, this fixed contact 42 is in electrical engagement with the terminal 41. As a result, a circuit is closed from the lead through the terminal 44, the leaf spring 46, movable contact 50, fixed contact 42, terminal 41 and lead 92 to the timer 94, thereby switching the electrical motor 18 to its energized state. When this happens, the pump 16 is operated and it pumps the liquid in the tub 10 through the conduit 13 and the conduit 22 into the pipe 26 and then into a septic tank or other sewer means that is coupled to the pipe 26.

As the liquid level in the tub 10 is lowered due to the pumping action of the pump 16, the float 70 will be lowered relative to the rod 64 and the stop 66. However, the cross member 82 that if affixed to the actuating member 76 and has its ends in frictional engagement with the side walls of the U-shaped support member 84 will maintain the upper end of the actuating rod 76 in engagement with the free end of leaf spring 54 to thereby maintain the rod 64 in an upper position. The friction between the cross member 82 and the side walls of the U-shaped support member 84 is sufiicient to maintain this relationship and keep the switch 30 in the closed position, as described above, until the lower end of the float 70 engages the stop member 68 positioned on the rod 64 and the liquid in the tub is lowered to the level where the float will return the stop member 68 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 2. This will occur when the liquid in the tub is lowered to a level just slightly above the bottom 12 of the tub 10. When the float -70 does move the stop member 68 to the solid line position shown in FIG, 2, the actuating member 76 and the rod 64 will be returned to the position shown in FIG. 2. The leaf spring 54 will then, through the armate coupling member 52, raise the movable contact 50 out of engagement with the fixed contact 52 and hence break the circuit between the lead 90 and the timer 94. As previously pointed out, however, the timer 94 will keep the electric motor 18 energized for a short time period thereafter. This will permit the pump 16 to pump the remain- .ing fluid or liquid in the tub into the drain field or septic tank to which the pipe 26 is connected. Thereafter, the timer 94 will open the circuit to the electric motor 18 thereby de-energizing it.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7 another time delay mechanism is provided which will keep the electric motor 18 energized for a short period of time after the liquid contained in the laundry tray is pumped down to a level of the bottom of the cy1- inder 32.

In this embodiment of the invention the cylinder 32 is provided with a plurality of apertures 100 that are positioned a given distance above the bottom of the cylinder. The bottom of the cylinder is closed by a plate 102 and preferably constructed of plastic, having a central aperture 104 positioned therein that is in alignment with the rod 64. The stop 68 positioned on the rod 64 is positioned above the plate 102 in a location where it will define with the plate 102 and the central aperture a restricted orifice for controlling the rate at which fluid may be drained from the cylinder 32.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, the cylinder 32 is filled with the liquid contained in the laundry tray 10 through the aperatures 100, thereby raising the float 70 to the position where it engages the stop 66 and moves it from the solid line position to the dotted line position shown thereby closing the switch 30 and energizing the pump 18 as previously described in relation to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.

As the electric motor 18 continues to drive the pump 20, the liquid contained in the tray 10 will be withdrawn and pumped through the conduit 26 to a drain field as previously described. When this happens the fluid contained in the cylinder 32 will drain out through the apertures 100 until the liquid level reaches a position below these apertures and the float 70 will drop downwardly. After the liquid level falls below the apertures 100 the fluid will continue to drain from the cylinder 32 through the orifice defined by the aperture 104, the plug 68 and the rod 64 that extends through the aperture 104.

The lowering of the liquid level in the cylinder 32 will be at a much lower rate than the lowering of the liquid in the tray 10 and the system is so designed that the liquid will be drained from the cylinder 32 a short time period after the laundry tray has been completely drained of liquid. At this time the float 70 will have dropped sufficiently to permit it to engage the stop 68 and lower it to the extent that it actuates the switch 30 to thereby deenergize the motor 18.

As a result of the above described operation, a time delay is provided that will insure that all of the liquid is pumped from the laundry tray 10. This time delay can be varied between preselected limits by the adjustment of the stop 68 upwardly and downwardly on the rod 64, The time delay will be reduced as the stop 68 is moved downwardly on the rod 64 and will be increased as the stop is moved upwardly on the rod 64 to thereby vary the efiective size of the orifice provided for draining liquid from the cylinder 32.

Thus, the present invention provides a switch and float actuator for the switch that may be easily coupled to a laundry tub. The switch is connected to control an electric motor that is used to drive a pump that pumps the liquid in the tub into a pipe that is coupled to a sewage system, for example, a septic tank or a drain field that is positioned substantially above the level of the tub. As previously stated, the invention is particularly useful in homes where a laundry tub is positioned in the basement of the home for receiving the effluent of a washing machine and in which a sewer system in the form of a septic tank or drain field is positioned at ground level and substantially above the tub.

While the forms of the invention described above constituted preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to rod and disposed on opposite sides of be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms.

What is claimed is:

1. A control device adapted to be positioned in a laundry tub for controlling a remotely located pump for pumping water from the laundry tub, said control device comprising housing means adapted to be detachably connected to the laundry tub, said housing means including a cylinder portion adapted to extend into the tub when the housing means is detachably connected thereto and a switch containing portion disposed above said cylinder portion, a switch contained within said switch containing portion and adapted to be connected in circuit with the pump for switching the pump between on and off positions, float means supported within said cylinder portion, means for operatively connecting said float means to said switch for moving said switch from a normally opened position to a closed position upon movement of said float means to a first, elevated position and for moving said switch from its closed position to its normally opened position when said float means reaches a predetermined substantially lower level within said cylinder portion, and means for providing for fluid communication of the liquid in the tub with said cylinder portion for actuating said float means, said means for providing for fluid communication of the liquid in the tub with said cylinder portion comprising means for restricting the rate of flow of the liquid from said cylinder portion to the tub for providing a time delay in the movement of said switch from its closed position to its opened position, said means for restricting the rate of flow of liquid from said cylinder portion to the tub being adjustable for adjusting the time delay.

2. A control device adapted to be positioned in a laun dry tub for controlling a remotely located pump for pumping water from the laundry tub, said control device comprising housing means adapted to be detachably connected to the laundry tub, said housing means including a cy1- inder portion adapted to extend into the tub when the housing means is detachably connected thereto and a switch containing portion disposed above said cylinder portion, a switch contained within said switch containing portion and adapted to be connected in circuit with the pump for switching the pump between on and off positions, a rod disposed within said cylinder portion and operatively connected to said switch, float means slidably supported upon said rod and disposed within said cylinder portion, spaced first and second stops carried by said said float means and adapted to be engaged by said float means for actuating said rod upon movement of said float means for moving said switch from a normally opened position to a closed position upon movement of said float means to a first elevated position and for moving said switch from its closed position to its normally opened position when said float means reaches a predetermined substantially lower level within said cylinder portion, and means for providing for fluid communication of the liquid in the tub with said cylinder portion for actuating said float means comprising first aperture means formed in said cylinder portion at a point spaced substantially above the lowermost end of said cylinder portion for permitting the ingress of liquid to said cylinder portion when the liquid level in the tub is substantially above said lowermost end of said cylinder portion and restricted aperture means formed in said lowermost end for retarding the rate of flow of liquid from said cylinder portion back to the tub to effect a time delay in the movement of the switch from its closed position to its opened position.

3. A control device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lowermost stop is juxtaposed to the restricted aperture means and is adjustable relative thereto for altering the time delay.

4. In combination, a switch and switch actuator comprising an open-ended cylinder adapted to be positioned vertically in a laundry tub, a switch having a housing and a movable means positioned in said housing, said movable means being adapted to open an electrical circuit when in one position and close an electrical circuit when in another position, a float positioned in said open-ended cylinder, a rod positioned centrally in said open-ended cylinder and operatively connected to said movable means for operating said movable means, said float being slidably mounted on said rod, first stop means carried by said rod and adapted to be engaged by said float when sai float reaches a predetermined upper position for moving said rod and said movable means to said One position to close an external circuit when said float is moved to a predetermined upper position, second stop means adjustably carried by said rod and adapted to be engaged by said float when said float reaches a predetermined lower position for moving said rod and said movable means to said other position to open an external circuit when said float is moved to said predetermined lower position, said cylinder having an opening positioned in the side wall thereof above the bottom of said cylinder, and time delay means including a plate positioned in the bottom of said cylinder and substantially closing said bottom of said cylinder, said plate having an aperture formed therein, said rod extending through said aperture, said second stop means being positioned above said plate to define with said aperture and said rod an orifice for permitting the drainage of fluid from said cylinder at a predetermined rate determined by the effective size of said orifice.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,712 6/1924 Crandall 20084 2,840,000 6/1958 Gramenzi 103-26 2,868,918 1/1959 Colette 20084 2,906,834 9/1959 Dyer 103-26 X 3,030,890 4/1962 Galik 10325 3,318,247 5/1967 Yost 103-25 3,316,845 5/1967 Schumann 103-26 2,905,783 9/1959 Johnson 10326 X 2,933,570 4/1960 Tutthill 10325 3,043,225 7/1962 Nielsen 10325 FOREIGN PATENTS 971,569 1/1951 France.

WILLIAM L. FREEH, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 200-84 

